Even though I was born in Lafayette, I have never been to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. I blame growing up in Texas, but either way, I’ve never made it to the Crescent City for the debauchery that is Fat Tuesday. This year, not only do the main festivities occur near my birthday, but this also marks my last semester at LSU and possibly the end of my stay in Louisiana. With that said, I’m heading down to the 504 for some drunken fun, and this is my guide to everything Mardi Gras:
Tips For Surviving Mardi Gras
I asked my friends for Mardi Gras survival tips and this is what I got:
1. Don’t piss off or piss on the New Orleans Police Department
2. Always remember the buddy system
3. Plan to have a ride home or know where you are staying ahead of time
4. Don’t take strange drinks from strangers
5. Only tourists flash their boobs; don’t be that person
6. Park legally, because you will get towed
7. Prepare for rain, because even if it doesn’t rain, you will get wet
8. Don’t be the asshole who never bought a king cake after finding the baby
9. Be patient, because there will be traffic
10. If you don’t know what parade you are watching, you’re doing it right

Thursday Parades:

Knights of Babylon at 5:45 p.m.

• Starts on the intersection of Napoleon Ave. and Magazine Street
• Ends at the intersection of Magazine Street and Common Street

Knights of Chaos at 6:30 p.m.

• Parade will roll immediately following the Knights of Babylon
• Ends at the intersection of Tchoupitoulas and Poydras Street

Krewe of Muses at 6:30 p.m.

• Starts at the intersection of Magazine Street and Jefferson Ave.
• Ends at the intersection of  Tchoupitoulas Street and South Joseph Street

(All three are located in Uptown New Orleans)

Friday Parades:

Krewe of Hermes at 6:00 p.m.

• Starts at the intersection of Magazine Street and Napoleon Ave.
• Ends at the intersection of Tchoupitoulas Street and Poydras Street

Krewe d’Etat at 6:30 p.m.

• Starts at the intersection of Jefferson Street and Magazine Street
• Ends at the intersection of Canal Street and Chartres Street

Krewe of Morpheus at 7:00 p.m.

• Starts at the intersection of Jefferson Street and Magazine Street
• Ends at the intersection of Tchoupitoulas Street and Poydras Street

(All three are located in Uptown New Orleans)

Saturday Parades:

Krewe of Iris at 11:00 a.m. (Uptown)

• Starts at the intersection of Napoleon Ave. and Carondelet Street
• Ends at the intersection of Tchoupitoulas Street and Poydras Street

Krewe of Tucks at 12:00 p.m. (Uptown)

• Starts at the intersection of Napoleon Ave. and Magazine Street
• Ends at the intersection of Canal Street and Decatur Street

Krewe of Endymion at 4:15 p.m. (Mid-City)

• Starts at the intersection of City Park Ave. and Orleans Ave.
• Ends on LaSalle Street into Champions Square at the Superdome

Sunday Parades:

Krew of Okeanos at 11:00 a.m.

• Starts at the intersection of Jefferson Ave. and Magazine Street
• Ends at the intersection of Tchoupitoulas Street and Poydras Street

Krewe of Mid-City at 11:45 a.m.

• Starts at the intersection of Jefferson Ave. and Magazine Street
• Ends at the intersection of Canal and Magazine Street

Krewe of Thoth at 12:00 p.m.

• Starts at the intersection of State Street and Tchoupitoulas Street
• Ends at the intersection of Tchoupitoulas Street and Poydras Street

Krewe of Bacchus at 5:15 p.m.

• Starts at the intersection of Tchoupitoulas Street and Napoleon Ave.
• Ends at the intersection of Julia Street and Convention Center Blvd.

(All four are located in Uptown New Orleans)

Monday Parades:

Krewe of Proteus at 5:15 p.m.

• Starts at the intersection of Napoleon Ave. and Magazine Street
• Ends at the intersection of Canal Street and Chartres Street

Krewe of Orpheus at 6:00 p.m.

• Starts at the intersection of Napoleon Ave. and Tchoupitoulas Street
• Ends at the intersection of Convention Center Blvd. and Julia Street

(Both of the parades are located in Uptown New Orleans)

Tuesday Parades:

Krewe of Zulu at 8:00 a.m.

• Starts at the intersection of South Claiborne and Jackson Ave.
• Ends at the intersection of Orleans Ave. and Broad Street

Krewe of Rex at 10:00 a.m.

• Starts at the intersection of Napoleon Ave. and South Claiborne Ave.
• Ends at the intersection of Canal Street and South Peters Street

Krewe of Elks Orleans

• Follows immediately after Krewe of Rex
• Ends at the intersection of South Robertson Street and Tulane Ave.

Krewe of Crescent City

• Follows immediately after Krewe of Elks Orleans
• Ends at the intersection of  South Robertson Street and Tulane Ave.

(All four are located in Uptown New Orleans)

Information and detailed parade routes can be found at:http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/schedule.html#

For more revelry and intoxicated shenanigans, head to the French Quarter, and laissez les bons temps rouler!

All photos taken from Tumblr: http://rick2u.tumblr.com and

http://orangedelicatesse.tumblr.com.